The three children, now awake, y in separate fortable beds with bowls of pe in front of them. While cautiously taking small spoonfuls, they cast nervous g the unfamiliar faces in the room.

  They seemed on guard—uandably so—but noticeably less so with Aisha. Maverid Edward stood back, listening quietly as Aisha spoke gently to them, trying to put them at ease.

  It didn't take long for Aisha to gather some key information from the children.

  One of the boys was a werewolf hybrid, while the other, with his slight disfigurements and shorter stature, turned out to be a half-goblin.

  The girl, oher hand, appeared to be a muggle, but that wasn't the full story. Morvain hadn't been targeting only magicals—he had also been abdug mutants as well. The truth was clear, though the girl hadn't revealed exactly what her ability was.

  After a while, Maverick decided to approach the children himself. He didn't want to seem like a strao them.

  "How are you kids feeling?" he asked gently, doing his best to offer a warm, reassuring smile.

  The three children immediately g Aisha, seeking reassurance, unsure whether they should respond.

  During the rescue at the castle, it had mainly been Ali and Aisha who ied with them. Scared as they were, they likely hadn't realized Maverick was there.

  "It's okay," Aisha said reassuringly, "This is Brother Maverick. He was with us, helpi up the bad guys and rescue you."

  They slowly opened up to him, responding that they were feeling much better and thanking him in their own childish ways.

  After a few friendly questions, Maverick asked the important ohe one he o know for their sake.

  "Do you have aives we tact, so we take you home?" Maverick asked.

  The two wizard boys immediately responded, shariails about where they were from and how they had been abducted. Fortunately, it wasn't all bad news. The kidnappers had struck when their parents weren't around, and no one had died—at least, that's what they knew.

  The children's responses made it clear—they were eager to go home.

  Without hesitation, Maverick turo Ali in front of them, instrug him to get in touch with their families.

  Unfortunately, the girl had no one. Maverick firmed this as he engaged in small talk with the children, subtly reag into the girl's memories to uand more about her situation. She remained mostly quiet while the two boys spoke.

  What took him by surprise was what else he found in her mind—her superpower.

  It wasn't overpowered, but it was undeniably impressive. Maverick immediately thought about raising her and keeping her by his side. It was a selfish thought, yes, but sidering the orphanage where she had been staying, it seemed the better option. Though she was fed and given a pce to sleep, they had treated her harshly, isoting her, calling her a freak, and subjeg her to the usual bullying. She clearly wasn't happy there, but stayed because she had no other choice.

  More importantly, her kidnapping had only happened a few days ago, uhe two boys, who had clearly been held for months based on their memories. This meant her psychological dition wasn't as severe as the others—still traumatized, but easier to heal thawo boys. From what Maverick could sense, what she really wanted was simple: acceptance.

  He g his teacher, and from Edward's expression, Maverick could tell that he too had seehing from their memories.

  Edward met his gaze and shrugged. "Do what you need. I trust your decision..."

  Maverick wasirely sure if Edward shared the same idea of taking in the girl, or if he was simply giving Maverick the spaake the decision first before his own suggestion. In any case, Maverick had made up his mind. He then turo address the children, starting with the two boys.

  "The uncle who just left is going to find your parents, hopefully soon, and we'll get you home. You don't have to worry about those bad people anymore... okay?" Maverick said gently.

  Both boys' eyes welled up, and they nodded, quietly thanking him.

  Maverick then turned his attention to the girl. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

  The girl, clearly saddened by her situatio his gaze. She answered softly, her voice g the joy one might expect after being rescued.

  "Sarah... sir," she said, pausing for a moment before suddenlyexg, "please, don't send me back to the orphanage." Her eyes flickered to Aisha, and she tinued, " I please stay with Sister Aisha here?" Her voice trembled, and tears began to well in her eyes as she looked at him with a pleading expression.

  Aisha was taken aback. Unlike Maverid Edward, she didn't fully know the little girl's situation. She subsciously opened her mouth and said, "But that's where your friends—"

  But Maverick raised his hand, makiip what ever she was going to say. He gave aisha a look, silently asking to let him ha.

  "Hi, Sarah." Maverick walked over to her bed and crouched down to meet her gaze. "Since you don't want to go back to the orphanage, you tell me why?"

  He spoke gently but with purpose, hoping the question would help her refle her situation and, in turn, give him a clearer picture of her memories.

  More importantly, Maverieeded to uand her character—whether she had ever retaliated against the bullies, and if so, how she had do. He also o know how she managed her abilities and whether she could trol them. These were critical factors in his decision about whether or not to take her in.

  Her superpower was impressive, but Maverick had no iion of weling someoo his camp, no matter hoable, unless he could trust their character—even if that person was just a child.

  Sarah bravely began to recall her situation, sharing everything with the room. Maverick couldn't help but admire her ce in speaking up, and it made him respect her more.

  She revealed that she had just turned month. On her birthday, while alone, she celebrated with a small muffin and a dle—until that was when she was captured. She expined her time at the orphanage, detailing the and harsh treatment she'd endured, which made her prefer staying away from it if she had a choice.

  As Sarah spoke, Maverick quietly delved into her memories. With each passing moment, he gained a clearer uanding of the kind of person she was, and his determination to keep her by his side only strengthened.

  He k wasn't morally ideal to read someohoughts without their permission, but he didn't have the luxury of pying by the rules of morality right now. He had a bottom lihough. He wouldn't probe into the minds of those he trusted.

  Once Sarah finished expining, Mavericed at Aisha, curious about what she had wao say earlier ahoughts on Sarah's request.

  Aisha misuood his look aated before speaking, "Boss... I... if you really want... I mean, I don't know anything about raising..."

  Maveriwardly sighed. He wasn't sure what to say if Aisha truly wao take Sarah in. He could tell that Sarah would prefer to stay with Aisha for now—she was more familiar with her and likely felt safer with her.

  heless, Maverick would give her the option first and see what she decided. Either way, he was determio keep her in his camp—whether that meant staying with Aisha or being closer to him, as part of his family.

  Maverick raised his hand, gesturing for Aisha to stop, and then gnced back at Sarah.

  "Listen," he said gently. "I uand now why you don't want to go back to the orphanage." He paused and raised his finger, fog. A mist of white appeared and swirled, shaping into a small raven. It began to hover above his head, fpping its wings quickly.

  "You see, just like you, I'm special as well..." Maverick tinued softly, watg Sarah's eyes widen in surprise as she focused on his Patronus.

  He willed the Patronus to fly toward her aly nd on her head. For the first time, Sarah smiled.

  "It's... beautiful..." she whispered, her eyes following the raven above her head, trying to catch a better view.

  Maverick made the Patronus disappear, and her mood shifted. She was no longer as sad as before, and there was a hint of hope in her eyes.

  Maverick smiled warmly at her. "You know, I've always wanted a little sister... so..." He paused, carefully choosing his words. "I be y brother... if you wao. You stay with my mom and dad, in our home, go to school... you be part of my family." He paused again, his expression being serious. "I will protey family will protect you."

  Sarah's eyes widened in shock. After a moment of stunned silence, her gaze softened, and tears welled up in her eyes. Before long, she broke down, g on the spot.

  Even Aisha and Edward were taken aback. They hadn't expected Maverick to be so dire Sarah a p his family.

  Maverick Gently gave a pat on her head and stood up. "You think about it... okey."

  But before he could take back his hand from her head, she quickly grabbed on to his palm with her tiny hands. "Are... are you being serious..." she asked disbelieving. It all souoo surreal to her.

  Maveriodded, showed the gentle smile. He didn't retract his hand. "I promise... i am serious..."

  "But I'm—"

  "Different?" Maverick cut her off, his voice ge firm. "Like I said, you're not the only one who's unique." He paused, gesturing to Edward and Aisha. "All of us. We're all special."

  Sarah's eyes filled with even more tears. " I... I really call you brother?"

  "Of course," Maverick replied, his tone softening. "And even if you don't want to stay with my family... you still call me Brother Maverick."

  "No!" She excimed, her voice trembling. "Please... I want to... I want to be your family..."

  Maveriwardly sighed, fighting to maintain his calm. He khis might seem selfish—because, in a way, it was. But it wasn't just for him. It was a win-win situation. Sarah would finally have the childhood she deserved, a ce to go to school, and a safe home.

  The only hurdle left was ving his parents, but Maverick wasn't worried. He was fident they would wele her with open arms once he expined her situation. Besides, his mother had always talked about wanting to have a daughter.

  Maverick smiled at Sarah. "Then from now on, you'll be Sarah Caesar. My little sister... and I'll be y brother." Before he could finish his sentence, Sarah leapt off the bed and threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

  Maverick patted her gently on the back. "Now, as y brother, I never want to see you sad . That's the first thing I ask of you."

  Sarah tried to hold back her sobs but still failed, resting her head on his shoulder.

  After a while, Sarah pulled away and sat back down on the bed. Maverick could see the visible shift in her mood, now much better, and through his Magical-Sense, he could feel her emotions had lightened siderably.

  He g the two boys. "Please, get along, okay? Bee good friends. We adults have some grown-up talks, so we'll be back soon." After they nodded, Maverick turo Aisha and Edward.

  Maverick hadn't fotten his teacher's presence for a moment. Edward had remained silent throughout, standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, everything without a single ent.

  He o the childre time, then, along with Aisha and Edward, left the room and stepped outside.

  —————————

  Author's Note:

  Just a quick update — up to Chapter 84 is already avaible on P AT r30n!

  PAT r30n [.] / RyanFic